Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black

13 reviews

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Abandonment, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Bullying, and Grief

sxndaze's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Abandonment

Moderate: Violence and Infidelity

Minor: Murder and Sexual content

chasesys's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

elderwoodreads's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a lovely post script to The Folk of the Air series, the illustrations really made it extra special. I like that we both got prequel and epilogue Cardan. If I had any criticism it would be that I wish there had been a little more on the epilogue side. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Infidelity

Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Drug use, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

theintrovertsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Slavery, Domestic abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Bullying, Abandonment, and Torture

Minor: Violence

kendra_taylors_version's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Abandonment

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Infidelity, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Toxic relationship

erised's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Child abuse

Minor: Toxic relationship

kynthebookworm's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I think this was a great addition to this world. I love the writing and I really liked the stories told and how they tied into Cardan's own actions and development. 
I also loved seeing the tidbits of them in the mortal world and the amazing little dynamic the characters all share as a family now.
I would have liked to see a bit more about Cardan and his interactions with the court and his siblings when he was younger but I do understand they more than likely weren't included for the sake of telling the overarching story across all the shorts in this book.
Overall a great read if you enjoy the original trilogy and very quick I finished it in 4 hours.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Confinement

watsontheslytherin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, and Bullying

andra_mihaela_s's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 I'm really glad I managed to get my hands on this add-on from Holly Black! ^_^

These collection of "stories" are well thought off and in perfect sync with the rest of "The Folk of the Air" series!

It gives us some answers to why our "Cruel Prince" behaved as he did, without actually trying to absolve him of the things he did and said! Well done!

Without spoiling the stories, I want to say the following: we have a coursive narrative, we receive answers as to why some things/ behavior was part of Cardan's character, and more than that, we get to see his mind evolving over time and how he interprets life and himself in different stages of it!
I'm happy with the way in which fairytales were incorporated and the different ways in which they evolve..from one interpreter to another, from one conclusion to another and from one purpose to another! Really liked this clever use of ever-changing story!

I really enjoyed this short book and I'm hopefull we'll someday get one on Madoc...

I don't think it is a shock to say that we have Jude make an appearance...but, thankfully, Cardan seemed to be his own person..without the tragic truth of many heroes/ love interests - with only one character trait...to be our MC's lover...>..>

In the end, I can only say that, for me, it was cathartic to see this side of the tale, to be in Cardan's shoes for a minute and explore his view on things!

Gladly recommend to anyone who enjoyed the original series!
Enjoy 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Abandonment, Violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Slavery, and Racial slurs